Archives for January 30, 2013

‘“After the second period, I didn’t have any emotion. I was really down,” Grigorenko said. “I was having a game where things didn’t work well for me. In the third period, they put me on the ice and I started to play really good. I scored a goal and it took me away from all the pressure.”’

‘This season doesn’t revolve around Grigorenko’s development, by the way. The Sabres have missed the playoffs three times in five years. Calls for Ruff and Regier to be fired grow louder with every season, if not every loss. The best way to quiet the masses is turning around their record, and Grigorenko can help them.’

‘But at least their prized first-round draft pick from June, Grigorenko, is feeling better about himself. He didn’t have a point in the first five games, but the Sabres saw enough talent — as well as recognizing they have little offensive depth at center — to want him here and not back in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.’

‘“We have an additional three or four months of development that we otherwise wouldn’t have had with a longer season,” Regier said Tuesday in announcing Grigorenko would be staying with the Sabres this season. “This isn’t a full-season decision; it’s a half a season, albeit a half a season with more pressure.”’

‘“Two things, really, that went into the decision … its his development in conjunction to his ability to help us win hockey games,” GM Darcy Regier said Tuesday at the Sabres morning skate in advance of their tilt with the Leafs Tuesday night.’